Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service Stay & Play Group at Quetta Park, Community Hall, Church Crookham, Every Thursday 1000hrs - 1130hrs starts 15th January 2026

AWS works in collaboration with local authorities to deliver partnership workshops that support families in health and learning development. These sessions run during term time and are inclusive and open to all families in the community.

 Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) - Armed Forces Personnel Portal Beta Testing

As part of the continued development of the Armed Forces Personnel Portal (AFPP), Defence are preparing to commence the next phase of Beta testing for the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) service. They are seeking current or recent WAC users who may be interested in supporting this important activity. User participation is essential to ensuring the service meets the needs of Service Personnel and their families and has been tested by representative users prior to wider release.

Expression of Interest Required

Any Service personnel who would like to be considered for participation in the Beta testing programme, please complete the Expression of Interest survey using the link below:

Expression of Interest Survey Link

Survey Deadline - The Expression of Interest survey will close at 2359hrs on Fri 23 Oct 26.

Only individuals who complete the survey by this deadline will be considered for participation in the Beta testing programme.

The Beta testing programme is currently planned to commence from Mon 2 Nov 26 and may be conducted across multiple iterative testing periods. This approach will enable the AFPP team to gather user feedback, implement improvements and, where required, re-test enhancements before wider release.

Vale of Glamorgan: Vale Family Compass - Have your say on childcare in the Vale

 

Vale Family Compass - Have your say on childcare in the Vale

We want to hear from parents and carers about their experiences of childcare.

• Can you access the childcare you need?
• What’s important to you when choosing childcare?
• What makes childcare difficult to access?
• What could be better?

Your feedback will help us understand what childcare is like for families across the Vale and identify where there are gaps, challenges or opportunities to improve.

Complete the survey here

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Surrey: become a registered childminder

Are you considering becoming a registered childminder and would like to find out more?

A registered childminder is a person who looks after one or more children for more than a total of two hours a day in their own home. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted. 

Surrey County Council are committed to supporting childminders to provide high quality childcare and early years education. Our 'Becoming a Registered Childminder' (BaRC) training is made up of two face-to-face full day sessions, delivered over two consecutive weeks, for those interested in joining the childminding profession. 

The training covers the legislation and implications of caring for other people's children in a home environment to ensure that children are safe, well cared for and take part in activities that contribute to their learning and development. 

The training also details your statutory duties as set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Chatham: Home Start Themed Stay & Plays Lampard Centre Mondays 0930hrs -1200hrs Thursdays 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

 Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Maidstone: Kent Family Hub Could your story help another parent?

 

Now recruiting parents and carers of children aged 0 to 5 to join a co-design group for a new podcast series exploring the joys and challenges of early parenthood.

Click HERE for further information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Q&A session with the UK Nursery Authority policy team - 30th September 2026, 10:30am

30 September, 10:30. Q&A session with the UK Nursery Authority policy team

Service personnel and their families are invited to attend a Q&A session with the UKNA policy team on Wednesday 30 September at 10.30am.

This session offers the opportunity to ask questions directly. If you would like to attend, please complete the UK Nursery Authority families Q&A form. The team will then send you an email invite.

Aldershot: Stay and Play Group Maurice Toye House, Every Tuesday from 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service - Stay & Play Group Quetta Park Community Hall Every Thursday 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

MOD ‘UK Nursery Authority’ childcare support: How to register and claim

From 1 September 2026, eligible working Service families who live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can get help with early years childcare costs.

If you would get 'free' (Government funded) childcare hours if based in England, Defence’s UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) childcare scheme will now help cover the difference in cost where you live.

It’s important to understand that UKNA does not give you a childcare space. It pays back money to eligible families who have already paid for early years childcare.

Who is eligible for UKNA

You may register for UKNA, if all the following apply:

• You are a Regular or Full-Time Reserve (Full Commitment) member of the Service
• Your family lives in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent family) earn at least the same as 16 hours a week at the UK National Minimum or Living Wage
• Neither parent (or the sole parent) earns more than £100,000 adjusted net income a year
• Your child is recorded and verified on JPA
• Your child is aged 9 months to 3 years old, in Scotland and Wales ​
• Your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old, in Northern Ireland
• You have an active Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account for your child: ‘active’ means you confirm your details every three months and get the top-up from HMRC when you add money
• Your childcare provider accepts TFC payments – all UKNA claims must first be paid through your child's TFC account
• Your child lives with you at least half the time, unless you're separated for Service reasons

How to register and claim

Hampshire: HCC Fostering services

Visit the Hampshire County Council website to find out more about how you can start your fostering journey.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Oxfordshire: Fostering with Oxfordshire County Council

Fostering with Oxfordshire County Council and the difference it makes. 

It might be early days and you're just curious, you may have questions that you would like answering or have been thinking about fostering for a while - take a look at the website for more information. 

Click HERE for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

London: Home Start London

Home Start are there for parents when they need it the most because childhood can’t wait

All parents struggle at one time or another and Home-Start is ready to support London families through their toughest times.

Home-Start trains and supports volunteers to work alongside parents in their own home giving compassionate and confidential support, tailored to each family. Home-Start London is a consortium of 12 local Home-Starts operating across 24 London boroughs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Shorncliffe: Army Welfare Service SANO NANEE Home Start Shorncliffe Community Centre Parent & Toddler Group Every Monday from 1000 - 1130hrs

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Leuchars: Bright Horizons Day Care Centre and UK Nursery Authority

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Further information can be found at Childcare for Service children - GOV.UK

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Moray: Moray Pathways Childcare Network Event Friday 21st August

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Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) support packages to help get you started as a Childminder

If you're looking for a flexible career that fits around your own family life, the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) offers a fantastic package of support to help you get started through the Programme for Scotland's Childminding Future (PSCF).

The PSCF support package includes:
⭐ One-to-one support every step of the way from SCMA
⭐A minimum £750 business start-up grant
⭐ Free online training
⭐ Free SCMA membership for one year

Why become a childminder?
💛Contribute to children's learning and wellbeing
💛 Earn while caring for your own family
💛 Be your own boss
💛 Provide a vital service for families in your local community

To find out more about starting a career in childminding, visit:

👉Find out more about becoming a childminder

You can also attend one of SCMA's free online Discovery Sessions to learn more about how childminding could work for you.

👉Book a free Discovery Session

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Falkland: Little Bugs at Falkland Estate - a place to explore, discover and grow coming Early 2027

🌿🐞We have been absolutely bursting to share this one…

The next Little Bugs nursery is planned for the beautiful Falkland Estate 🌳💚

Plans are now officially underway, thhis will be the third fully outdoor nursery, welcoming children aged 2–5 years for year-round care and bringing the Little Bugs approach to an incredible new woodland setting.

🌳 Outdoor childhood, every day
🐞 Year-round care for ages 2–5
🌿 Fully outdoor early learning
💚 Plans to offer funded ELC places

There is still lots happening behind the scenes before families through the gates.

If you already think Little Bugs Falkland could be the place for your little bug, complete the pre-application form now to register your interest and be among the first invited to see the site when we're ready to show you around.

 👉[Complete our pre-application form here 🐞🌿](https://2g601x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2fXMLBoUwRpysaT8cdvPLzw)

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Aldershot: Stay and Play Group at Maurice Toye House 27 Midddle Hill, Every Tuesday from 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

AWS works in collaboration with local authorities to deliver partnership workshops that support families in health and learning development. These sessions run during term time and are inclusive and open to all families in the community.

 Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Leuchars: Bright Horizons Day Care Centre

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE